It can be, but methanol is produced catalytically, unlike ethanol, which is made via fermentation and competes with crops for arable land. You can make ethanol

It can be, but methanol is produced catalytically, unlike ethanol, which is made via fermentation and competes with crops for arable land. You can make ethanol catalytically as well, but afaik it typically involves making methanol first. Methanol has slightly less energy density, but it has the advantage of burning cleaner than any other fuel (no carbon-carbon bonds, so no soot), and it's easier to crack using waste heat, which is a pathway to more efficient engines (you can boost the LHV of the fuel by around 20% this way).